Cloud Server Data Source Identification via Centralized Time Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data source searching systems in cloud servers face inaccuracies due to time zone differences when determining the original or earliest-replicated data, as creation times are generated based on system times of each cloud server.
Innovation Solution
A data source searching system that includes an input unit, creation time acquiring unit, locational area acquiring unit, time zone acquiring unit, and determination unit, which calculates time zone differences and determines the cloud server with the earliest creation time by accounting for time zones, ensuring accurate identification of the data source across distributed cloud servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If creation time is generated according to system time of each cloud server, then data storage and retrieval operation is simplified, but measurement precision of creation time becomes inaccurate due to time zone differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized time server as an intermediary to provide a unified time source for all cloud servers. Instead of each server using its own local system time, all servers query the centralized time server to obtain synchronized time information, thereby eliminating time zone differences while maintaining simple data storage and retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the time parameter from local system time to standardized time obtained from a centralized time server. By changing the time source parameter, the system achieves accurate creation time measurement across all cloud servers while keeping the data storage and retrieval operations simple and unchanged.
2Device complexity
If creation time is compared directly among cloud servers, then determining data source is simplified, but reliability of data source identification becomes inaccurate due to time zone differences
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized time server acts as a mediator that provides a common time reference for all cloud servers. This allows direct comparison of creation times to remain simple while ensuring reliability, as all times are now synchronized to the same time zone standard provided by the centralized time server.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary time synchronization by having all cloud servers query the centralized time server before generating creation times. This preliminary action ensures that all creation times are based on the same time reference, making direct comparison reliable for accurate data source identification.
3Adaptability or versatility
If each cloud server uses its own system time, then system independence is maintained, but measurement precision of time-based data becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized time server serves as an intermediary that maintains system independence while providing synchronized time. Each cloud server remains independently operational but queries the time server for accurate time information, achieving both independence and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized time server provides a universal time source that all cloud servers can access. This multi-functional time service enables accurate time-based data measurement across all servers while preserving their operational independence, as each server can still function autonomously but with synchronized time references.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a data source searching system and a method adapted for the system. The system includes a number of cloud servers which store data. The system acquires creation time of the data in each cloud server in response to a command for searching data source of the data. A time zone of each cloud server is acquired. The system compares all creation time of the data in all cloud servers based on the time zones to determine which creation time of the data is in fact the earliest among all compared cloud servers and regards the cloud server which stores the data whose creation time is the earliest as the data source of the data.